There is no doubt that universal pre-K is the right thing to do, especially for kids coming from families that live below the poverty line. However, this initiative is going to take a lot of time to phase in, and it must be done carefully and thoroughly. De Blasio also needs to find extra classrooms and additional teachers and financing, and these tasks will be extremely challenging.

He must find other sources of revenue besides just taxing the rich to fund this project. I recommend that he start by having city employees pay more into their health care plans and pension programs. This is a necessary move with or without free pre-K, and an initiative that I believe will spread statewide.

I will be taking a much-needed vacation next week, so this is the last time many of you will hear from me until the new year.

2013 has been quite a year. We lost several great men and women, including my friend Ed Koch, Margaret Thatcher and the legendary Nelson Mandela. Mandela was one of the most admirable figures in the world. He famously led the fight to end the system of apartheid in South Africa, and later went on to rule the nation as its first black president. He was freed from prison in 1990, having spent nearly three decades there, and went to work uniting the nation, using a mantra of forgiveness.

Mandela will be remembered as a man of tremendous courage, and will remain a symbol of the struggle against racial oppression forever. I pray that his message continues to resonate as many around the world still fight for equality.

Also this year, we saw the situation in the Middle East remain unstable, with the constant threat of the use of nuclear and chemical weapons. Obamacare exploded, and remains a quagmire. Will it continue, but with the necessary changes, or will 2014 bring its demise?

In March we will once again be faced with a deadline on the debt ceiling. I hope we don’t face another doomsday scenario. Members of Congress think the people hate them now? Try that maneuver again and see what happens!

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I am looking forward to entertaining you in 2014. May it be a happy and healthy New Year!

Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.

Comments

After reading the Newsday article last week I would love to see you try to explain why Nassau Cops ever need a raise again, just look at the breakdown of your tax bill almost all is police costs. To bad so few people read the newspaper anymore or they would complain that most police officers make over 120k other are making over 200k, can be brought up on charges and then retire with pensions ranging from 90k -130k+ a year. A pension should be no more than 60k a year. If these guys retire at age 55 then we are paying them insane money for the next 20 -30 years. Also defend the perk of retiring on Jan 2 and getting paid for all of the sick/vacation time for that year.

I'm am sure that the majority of cops in Nassau have never pulled their gun in their entire career, they should not be paid more than a NYCity cop.